The Work Of Pittsburgh Artist Bill Miller On View On Shelter Island - 27 East

Arts & Living

Arts & Living / 1715889

The Work Of Pittsburgh Artist Bill Miller On View On Shelter Island

icon 6 Photos
Bill Miller's

Bill Miller's "Starry Night."

Bill Miller's

Bill Miller's "The Steal Mill," 2016. Vintage linoleum collage.

Bill Miller's

Bill Miller's "Willis and Ginny," 2019 Vintage linoleum collage.

Bill Miller's

Bill Miller's "James’ Chair," 2019. Vintage linoleum collage.

Bill Miller's

Bill Miller's "The Farmhouse," 2020. Vintage linoleum collage.

Bill Miller's

Bill Miller's "Vincent’s Bedroom in Blue (after Van Gogh)," 2020. Vintage linoleum collage.

authorStaff Writer on Aug 3, 2020

The New York City-based exhibition and programming space dieFirma is bringing the art to Shelter Island in a new show titled “In this house I call home,” an exhibition of a series of more than 30 new collages created by artist Bill Miller over the last year, including some of his most ambitious, large-scale works to date. The exhibition runs August 19 to August 23 at dieFirma East and was originally slated for this past spring prior to the COVID-19 lockdown.

As an artist, Miller cuts and arranges vintage linoleum to explore the work of memory and how representation conditions personal and collective consciousnesses. Using images taken from his own life, pop culture, and art — such as van Gogh’s Bedroom in Arles — Miller transmutes found linoleum, which bears the scuffs and scrapes of its use, into a witness and teller of history.

Both an authentic artifact and artificial material, linoleum was often manufactured to create illusions of more valuable surfaces. Miller doesn’t modify the surface of this now out-of-fashion material, instead choosing to transform its plainness into complex pictorial arrangements, while letting its own material legacy speak. Whether recognizable from Grandma’s kitchen, a childhood school room, or the corner drug store, in Miller’s hand linoleum evokes commonplace memories, as well as broader narratives of industrialization, deindustrialization, violence, and loss that have shaped much of American culture and Miller’s own life as a working-class artist.

The collages featured in “In this house I call home” have an abiding curiosity about the past, and a conviction that its traces can be imbued with new life. dieFirma East will offer the opportunity to take in the full significance and scale of Miller’s collages in a wooded, waterfront location as part of a unique socially distanced art experience. For the five day exhibition, dieFirma East will offer limited sign-ups to permit the safe experience of “In this house I call home.” Visit diefirmanyc.com for more information and email contact@diefirmanyc.com to reserve a viewing time and receive specifics of the exhibition location. The artist will be on hand for guided tours and to answer questions.

Bill Miller was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1962. He studied at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, during which time he became a founding member of the Industrial Arts Coop. After earning his degree, he moved to Denver, Colorado where he studied at Denver University and Colorado State University, concentrating on painting and printmaking. In 1988 Miller moved to New York City, where he worked at The Village Voice and exhibited his work in a series of exhibits in Chelsea. In 2000, he relocated to Washington, D.C., to focus full time on his art. Miller’s work has been widely exhibited, including in solo shows in New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Seattle, New Orleans, and other cities across the United States. His collages have also been shown in group exhibitions in Barcelona and London. In 2007, he had a retrospective at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts and Media. Miller currently resides in Pittsburgh.

You May Also Like:

East End Underground Concert Series Presents ‘Folkie Fest: The Power of Song’

LTV Studios and the East End Underground Live Concert Series will present “Folkie Fest: The Power of Song” on Sunday, October 19, at 2 p.m., featuring an afternoon of acoustic performances by local artists. The event, produced by DJ, filmmaker and musician Jody Gambino, is an extension of an ongoing concert series at the Moriches Bay Recreation Facility. It aims to showcase a variety of artists, genres and original music. Featured performers include Gregory John Smith, The Hootenannies, Silas Jones, Rorie Kelly and Hank Stone. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door at ltveh.org. LTV is at ... 13 Oct 2025 by Staff Writer

Howl at the Moon: ‘Ozzmosis’ Channels Ozzy for a Haunted Halloween Show

The Suffolk will honor the Prince of Darkness with “Ozzmosis,” a world-class Ozzy Osbourne anthology ... by Staff Writer

Tickleslap Trio Returns to Montauk Library for Encore Performance

The Montauk Library will present a special encore performance by the Tickleslap Trio on Sunday, ... 12 Oct 2025 by Staff Writer

Horror on Hill Street: Southampton Playhouse Is Where the Classics Come Out After Dark

This month, Southampton Playhouse (43 Hill Street, Southampton) presents a celebration of classic and cult horror films along with talks by special guests and thematic programming. For tickets, visit southamptonplayhouse.com. “Psycho” – Tuesday, October 21, 7:30 p.m. Alfred Hitchcock’s seminal slasher film “Psycho” returns to the Playhouse for the first time since 1960, as part of the ongoing series curated by Martin Scorsese and his daughter, Francesca Scorsese. The screening will be accompanied by cocktails from the new book “Hitchcocktails” by WLIW host Larry Maslan. Maslan will present the film, discuss the film-themed drinks in his book, and offer insights ... by Staff Writer

Playwrights’ Theatre of East Hampton To Present ‘Rhinoceros’ at LTV Studios

The Playwrights’ Theatre of East Hampton at LTV Studios will present a staged reading of “Rhinoceros,” a play by Eugène Ionesco and translated by Derek Prouse, on Saturday, October 18, at 7:30 p.m. Originally written in 1959, “Rhinoceros” is a landmark work of absurdist theater. The play follows the residents of a small French town as they begin transforming into rhinoceroses, with only the central character, Bérenger, resisting the metamorphosis. Often interpreted as a commentary on conformity and the rise of fascism in Europe, the play explores themes of morality, logic, mob mentality and individual responsibility. The cast includes Vincent ... 10 Oct 2025 by Staff Writer

‘Unsilenced Voices’ Honors Music’s Power to Resist Tyranny

Reflections in Music returns to The Church on Saturday, October 25, at 7 p.m. with ... by Staff Writer

Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ at The Suffolk

The Suffolk will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the cult classic “The Rocky Horror Picture ... by Staff Writer

Hamptons JazzFest Launches With Latin Jazz and Dinner Event

Hamptons JazzFest will launch its 2025–26 Jazz Night series on Friday, October 17, with an opening night celebration featuring a Latin jazz performance, dinner by Tapovana Lunch Box, and a full refreshment bar. “Jazz Night is a premium cultural experience for the community — world-class music, an inclusive atmosphere, and welcoming hospitality all under one roof,” said Claes Brondal, executive director of Hamptons JazzFest. “By combining music and dining, we’ve created more than a concert — it’s a complete evening out, and it all wraps up before 9 p.m.” The event will take place at the Masonic Temple at 200 ... 9 Oct 2025 by Staff Writer

‘Puccini ed Amici’ Concert Returns to Leiber Collection October 11

The Leiber Collection will present “Puccini ed Amici (Puccini & Friends)” with world-class opera singers, ... 8 Oct 2025 by Staff Writer

Bedside Reading Offers a Book Collection for Film Festival Guests

Visitors attending the East Hampton film festival this week will find a literary addition to ... 7 Oct 2025 by Staff Writer